Exile 1976 wrote:It’s just a good job for Grealish that arsehole Mitchell had a weak ass punch, because if he could hit then Jack could have found himself with a serious injury.
I don’t see someone running a full 20yrds to punch someone full force from behind as being a ‘minor’ crime, certainly the outcome was, but, it could have been so much worse.
An assault which does not cause injury is a section 39 common assault. It carries a maximum sentence of six months. I certainly don't consider it a minor crime, in the sense of it not being serious. However it is not as serious as an assault occasioning actual bodily harm, or one causing grievous bodily harm, or manslaughter or murder.
Had it been 'so much worse' the charge would have been a section 20 causing GBH without intent, that is without intending to cause really serious harm. The worst case scenario would be what is commonly referred to in the trade as a 'one punch manslaughter'.
That final scenario is as you say very serious and tragically common. Every person who has ever thrown a punch could so easily be guilty of that.